An Orchestra for Adelaide

Its aims and prospects

The need for a permanent orchestra has long been felt in musical circles in Adelaide. As announced in “The Advertiser” a week ago, such an organisation is now being formed, and the prospects are that Adelaide will soon be brought into line with the capitals of Victoria and New South Wales in this connection. Yesterday, Mr Eugene Alderman, in a chat with a representative of “The Advertiser,” remarked that the importance of a permanent orchestra to the musical culture of the city could not be over-estimated. Mr Heinicke, he said, was about to take up the work again which some years ago he performed with distinction to himself and the benefit to the music-lovers of the metropolis. A new orchestra was being formed, which would practically continue the work of the Adelaide Grand Orchestra. It would rehearse throughout the year, and would be ready to give concerts or to supply accompaniments when these were required. It was hoped that it would do much for the advancement of musical culture, and he was sure it would supply a deeply felt need. The aim amongst other things, would be to popularise works by several composers who at present were but little known here. Prominence would be given to writings by Richard Strauss, Tschaikowsky, and Bruckner. The symphonic poems of Liszt would also have a place in the society’s programme. It was surprising how little was known of these beautiful works. They were really the finest of Liszt’s compositions and he had no doubt they would be greatly appreciated when presented under Mr. Heinicke’s direction. Examples of different schools of writing, including many of the old favourites, would be studied and presented to the public. The idea was to make the work as educational as possible.

The Value of the Ensemble.

The great feature of the orchestra, Mr Alderman explained, would be its permanent character. He mentioned that some really fine instrumental concerts had been given at the Elder Conservatorium under the batons of Mr Heinicke and Winslow Hall, but the personnel was continually changing, Ensemble was the one vital necessity of an orchestra, and if this was to be satisfactory they must have long and continuos practice. The value of this was demonstrated by the artistic success of the orchestra of the Quinlan Opera Company, which prior to touring Australia had played together in Great Britain and then throughout South Africa. It had been a great loss to Adelaide that they had no permanent orchestra to take part in concerts by visiting artists. A company was got together to assist the Sheffield Choir and although they played exceedingly well it would have been more satisfactory of there had been an orchestra already in existence to take up the work. Madame Carreno had had to play the great Tschaikowsky concerto to the accompaniment of a second piano because there was no orchestra, and of course a great deal of the effect of the magnificent work was in consequence lost.

Prospects of Success

Already several instrumentalists had enrolled as members of the new orchestra, which would begin rehearsing almost at once, and would probably give their first concert about Easter next. They were hopeful of enlisting the services of nearly all the leading players in Adelaide, as they wanted to make the combination as strong and artistically complete as possible. He thought they had the material here for a really fine band, and with an accomplished and experienced musician like Mr Heinicke as conductor there was every reason to take a hopeful view of the enterprise. The Hon. H Homburg was the president, Mr F. Basse vice-president, he (Mr Alderman) leader and Mr H Brewster-Jones secretary.

The Advertiser November 30 1912